Circles by NaruMolly

[Lady Serenity]

Circles: PART FOURTEEN"
by NaruMolly

Nathan leaned his back against the boulder and slid down it, clutching at his chest, each breath stabbing him with pain. Another blast hit the boulder he was leaning against, and he dragged himself to his feet, stumbling after Molly and her mother to the next sheltering boulder, not daring to look back at the pursuit. He wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth before either of the others could see. "We can't keep this up forever!" Molly said, fumbling for her wand. "And I'm so tired..."

Nathan grunted, not able to draw enough breath to reply without causing himself too much pain. The ribs Joerdan had broken with that kick were doing their damage. Molly's mother gripped the musician's arm. "What'll we do?"

"I...I'll...think..." he choked, tasting more blood, but swallowing it before either could make any comment, clutching at his chest where Joerdan had kicked him. "...of something," he managed to finish.

An explosion filled the cavern, but not near them. From where Beryl waited. The three of them ducked behind a boulder and looked back. More fighters were pouring into the vast cavern that housed the Black Lake, but flower chains bedecked a few of them. Cerulean, at the front, yelled something, gesturing as the rebel army poured into the cavern, spreading out to meet Beryl's.

Nathan put his back to the boulder and slid to the ground, almost doubled over. Molly looked back at him in concern. "Are you..."

"Fine," he mouthed, trying to clear the blurring and dark edges of his vision with a head shake. He lifted his arm, and Molly, worry and doubt on her face, curled up under his arm snuggling against him while her mother leaned on his other side. "We...we..can only...wait...now..."

****

"***t!" Jared's mount leapt over the adonni, and he leaned low, swinging with the blade Nuada had loaned him. "I've never ridden bare back, Tuli!!" he cursed, wincing as his leg sent a fiery jolt of pain when he tightened his leg around the unicorn's flanks to stay on.

Tuli looked back over his shoulder at the yellow-haired man apologetically, then jabbed and lunged at the adonni he had just jumped over with his horn. Jared cursed and swung at another youma who came up to his side. They were outnumbered, and this time, there were no tricks.

****

"Molly..."

She turned and looked at Nathan, hearing a strange rasp to his words, almost a gurgle. His face was pale beneath his sweat-damp hair, a nasty looking whiteness around his eyes. "Nathan..."

"Molly...take your mother...run...run for the back of this alcove...a...narrow...crevasse leads to near the...entrance to the catacombs...if...if I remember..."

"What?" Molly's mother sat up, looking at him. "What will you be doing?"

Nathan coughed again, this time letting the blood trickle from the corner of his mouth. "Staying here."

"NATHAN!" Molly gasped clutching at his face, her eyes anguished.

"Molly...you must...go."

"Not without you."

"Don't..." he choked again, fighting off the pain. "...don't be a dolt, Mol'...I...can't make it, and...I bloody know it." He closed his eyes a moment, resting his head against the boulder. "I...I'm sorry...I... wanted to show you...my home..." He opened his eyes again, the deep blue glazed in pain. "I'm...sorry, Mol. I...love you."

"No..." she moaned.

"Mol...go...please...m'lung's punctured...it's...it's only a matter...of time," he raised his hand to touch her hair. "Go."

Molly put her arms around his neck, a choking sob wracking her. Nathan turned her head a little and kissed her gently. "Nathan..."

"I'm...there's...always next lifetime..." He kissed her cheek, pushing her away slightly. "I...messed up...enough this...lifetime...I...I'll be back."

Molly's mother held her daughter's shoulders, tears tracking down her own face silently. "I'm...sorry, Mr. Malley."

"Don't...don't be..." he closed his eyes again. "Go...hurry...get...to safety."

Molly had to be pulled away by her mother. Nathan opened his eyes long enough to see them slip around a boulder, then he closed his eyes, and didn't reopen them.

****

Somehow, she knew they were dead. Nathan and Malcolm were dead.

Zoe looked up at Beryl, half-way across the huge cavern from her own position, near the shore of the Lake. The singer spared a glance for Jared, his sword swings getting slower; that leg wound was straining him. She could tell. It was only a matter of time.

For her as well; she wasn't going to fool herself about the seriousness of the broken collar bone nor the amount of blood she was loosing where the bone poked through the skin. "I'm sorry we...didn't talk Mal...we should have talked. Nathan..." she found a flicker of power from somewhere deep within. "Jared...be careful, you idiot. Chase Mina and Rei and Lita. Be happy. Don't...do anything stupid," she whispered. A nearby youma looked at her curiously, shoving a few withered strands of what looked like daisies from its eyes. It backed away as a large, dark crystal blade appeared in her good hand.

"My Lady..."

"Haven't you ever seen an ice blade?"

The youma blanched and moved to join the fray. Zoe charged off through the crowd, freezing blade carving a path before her. Those that didn't move: her allies were knocked aside with a line of cold- burn from the flat of the blade and the others stabbed and shattered into a million frozen fragments.

****

Cerulean heard a short cry to his side, and turned to catch Lita as she stumbled, a set of parallel slashes reaching from her left shoulder, across her hip and down to her right hip from the half-dragon-like thing she had been facing. They were pressed too closely for her or Rei to use their powers. Lita seemed to be still alive, but she was unused to having to fight things with talons, teeth, and magic only with her fists.

Grimly, he pulled her arm around his shoulders and kept fighting while she managed to send out kicks enough to dissuade anything from coming closer on her side, though there was, of course, still the danger from magic.

"Zoe! NO!"

Cerulean's eyes widened and he turned towards where Darien fought back to back with Serena. The blonde woman was running for them, a long blade of crystal held in her good hand. Charging at Beryl who was aiming a large ball of dark energy at the two. Youma and minions alike fell to her blade, freezing and falling to shatter on the floor as the motion of her passage tipped them over.

Then there was only Joerdan and a score of adonni between her and the queen.

Cerulean's jaw dropped. For a moment, it almost looked as though she was going to make it. Beryl actually dropped her hands, staring in open shock. Cerulean wondered where the dark bruise on the Queen's chin had come from.

Then one of the creatures reached out and grabbed Zoe by the throat and shook her roughly, her sword dropping from her suddenly limp fingers to shatter on the floor and dissipating into mist. Then it flung her aside carelessly aside like a rag doll. She fell to the ground in a heap and lay still. Cerulean could only close his eyes in pain, and keep fighting.

There was nothing he could do.

****

Jared flung himself off Tuli's back at Zoe's side, heedless of the pain. Her neck rested at an unnatural angle, her position too boneless for anything alive. **By the gods; Lady Zoicite.**

Mina and Rei made it through the fighting to his side. "Oh...no..."

Jared reached out a shaking hand, closing Zoe's sightless eyes. The mans usually mobile face tightened into a hideous mask and he turned from the two scouts, dragging himself back onto the waiting unicorn's back.

****

"I do not like this," Nuada called to Cerulean, fighting his way to the man's side. "There is no sign of our captured friends," said Nuada. "Even if this Beryl is more naive than Bridgette claims, there is no way she wouldn't have flaunted them before now, despite our obvious problems."

Cerulean nodded distractedly, seeing Jared battling furiously to one side of Cerulean's vision with a suddenly glowing blade. "I don't know, my Lord. Perhaps...perhaps they escaped."

Nuada looked at him sharply, then turned back to the main battle.

"Lord Nuada! Reinforcements!"

The sidhe lord lost his dignity and spat out a string of words that HAD to be curses strong enough to peel paint. "damn!" he cursed, looking at Riversong. "Where are they coming from."

"No, my lord. They're ours. From the Island. And they brought the big beastie," Riversong crowed in delight, drawing back his bow and shooting the last of his exploding, crystal arrows over the main fight to the group gathered around Beryl to guard her.

Nuada blinked, then laughed out loud. Cerulean grinned, feeling lighter. "We..."

"My lord!" Cerulean turned to see Gallia struggling through the press towards him. "My lord! Sailor Earth and another human just appeared from a narrow crevasse near the head of the catacombs."

"That is good! One less thing to worry about."

"No, my lord. Lord Nephlite...is dead."

****

Molly left her mother in the protection of a couple of slightly wounded youma who had been pulled from the fight and charged into the battle, slinging small blasts of stones when she could, fighting through towards Rei and Mina. She blasted a rank or youma out of the way with a small tremor and joined the other two scouts. "MOLLY!" Mina gasped, hugging the smaller girl. She paused as the fighting moved away from them for a moment. "What--what's wrong?"

Molly dashed tears from her eyes. "We're going to find Beryl...and...and Joerdan...and we're going to kill them. We...we'll use the things that Bridgette gave us."

Rei pulled the small burnt orange colored pebble from her pocket then looked back at Molly with a sort of flat curiosity. "What...what's gotten into you?"

"Nathan...Nathan's dead...so's Malcolm...if...if Joerdan was telling the truth."

Mina paled. "Zoe...Zoe's dead too. And Jared...he..." she pointed across the battle to the furious man on the unicorn.

Molly nodded once. "Let's...find Serena, Ami, and Lita and go get them."

Rei nodded once. "I owe Beryl one, too." She touched a few silvery white hairs wrapped around one wrist, and the three girls began fighting their way through to Serena and Darien.

****

Ami frantically tapped at her computer, yelling out new information to the runners that had been assigned to her. Before her stood two huge cats, the size of cave lions, snarling and keeping the youma at bay. One was pure white but for a crescent moon in the center of his forehead. The other, a dark blue-gray. Luna and Artemis. "They're trying to flank us on the right, and Beryl's gathering her power again to do something."

The slender youma with the almost chrome skin ran off to the commanders. "Ami!"

She turned to see Rei pushing between Luna and Artemis. The raven-haired girls eyes were on fire with some dark emotion. "What?"

"Come on; and get out that stone Bridgette gave you. We're going to get them. Now."

****

Lita was managing to keep her own feet now, aiming the smaller blasts of lightning she had learned to control out at her attackers. (Zoe and Nathan dead. And more going to be soon.) She dared to turn her eyes from her assailant to peek over her shoulder and over Cerulean's where he put his back to hers. (That's not Jared in there,) she thought with a shudder. (He isn't like that. He cooks and tells jokes and is like a big brother to anyone.) The yellow-haired man had gotten power from somewhere. Energies crackled around his hands and down his blade to destroy youma and the human minions alike when they came too close. The unicorn he rode seemed to have picked up on his rider's rage. It leapt about like an avenging demon, slashing with its horn and hooves, it's silvery-white coat and gleaming horn dulled with all of the splashed blood and ichor.

"Lita!"

She turned to see Serena striking out with the moon wand, forcing her way into the close quarters where Cerulean, Lita, and Nuada fought, Darien and the other scouts at her back. "Sailor Moon! What--" began Cerulean.

"We're going to try to break through. A straight rush," said Darien, his hand on Serena's shoulder, though his eyes were fixed on Molly. "We can't take much more of this pitched battle."

Nuada opened his mouth, then looked at Molly himself. "I see. Perhaps that will be enough." He raised his head and called out in his strange tongue the command that they had all been taught. "*NDAK!*" Charge.

The army surged forward.

****

"What's that?" asked Melvin, grabbing Quicksilver's shoulder and pointing.

The healer looked up from his bloody hands and stared. A point of light was hovering over Bridgette's head where she held Malcolm's body close to her shoulder. "I...I don't know, Melvin. I..."

There was a flash, and Bridgette was gone, Malcolm's corpse falling to the soft grass gently, as though someone eased him down. The light vanished with a final twinkle.

****

Jedite was startled by the power of his new self's fury. HE had no clue where Jared was summoning the strength to sent out flares of power that Jedite would have been proud of while being completely rested. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard faint music somewhere where a faint light glowed. Jedite could do nothing but let Jared's fury carve him through the ranks of youma towards where Beryl waited.

Then a clear baritone rose over the sounds of battle, a ringing word. "*NDAK!*"

**Jared. Jared we're charging.**

**I know that. What in hell do you think I've been doing?**

Jedite said nothing more but muttered a prayer to ANYONE that they would get through this as the rebel army gave a low cry and surged forward.

****

"What ARE they doing?" asked Beryl, turning to Joerdan.

"I do not know, my queen." Joerdan squinted through the dim light to the gathering of the leaders, taking his eyes of the frightening prowess of his former lord and his mount. "Perhaps a planning--"

The tall, silver-haired man with the silver arm cried out a single ringing word. The rebels stopped fighting instantly, and turned as one...

...charging straight for their position.

"My Queen...perhaps we should retreat..."

"SILENCE!" she knocked Joerdan back, closer to the edge of the Lake. Joerdan rolled away just before a tentacle struck where he had been. "I will not retreat!"

Joerdan winced, but eyed the sides. No escapes but death or a teleport, and Beryl would kill him even before he had gathered enough power to do so. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a deep red crystal; one he had found on the roof of the school near a pile of discarded equipment. Just enough energy to get across the cavern.

****

"She's in range!" Ami screamed, tossing aside her computer and pulling out a heavy dark pebble.

"NOW!"

Each of the Scouts clutched the small stones in their hands screaming out their commands in unison so that the words all blended together into one cry. Darien pulled a rose, pausing, his eyes on the Scouts as masses of energy built up around them, gathering in front of Serena's moon wand. Molly's voice spoke up again, voice low. "For Nathan...AND Nephlite!"

Rei snarled, "For Kali!"

Ami frowned. "For Zoe."

The power surged blindingly bright and Serena released it. It smashed its way through the youma and into the place where Beryl stood.

****

"Oh....***t!" Joerdan crushed the life crystal in his hand just as the Sailor Scouts released the incredible blast, appearing in the shadows across the cavern. He looked back.

Between the line of Scouts and Beryl there was nothing left standing. The very stone was polished to a glassy smoothness. But Beryl had only been pushed back a step. The Queen laughed. "Is that the best you can do? I have life-forces enough to turn you all to dust."

Jared and his mount slammed into Beryl, knocking the three of them into the Lake.

****

"The Lake has no Master," Cerulean muttered in faint horror as the Lake bubbled and surged around the three.

"Jared! NO!"

Cerulean turned and caught Lita before she could go to him. "Lita...there's nothing we can do...we must get out of here. Now."

She sagged against his shoulder sobbing bitterly, but allowed herself to be led swiftly across the cavern. Gallia approached from one side, cradling the limp form of Nephlite in her arms, her eyes fixed on the entrance to the catacombs. Ami blinked. "Did...anyone else see...that? That flash...flash of light just before...Jared went in?"

Cerulean shook his head. "No. I...couldn't watch."

Nuada looked at Lita strangely, leading Molly's blank-faced form along. "I thought that you cared for Lord Cerulean, Lady Jupiter."

"Jared...Jared was..."

"He's more the brother, I think," said Rei softly, ignoring the tears running down her cheeks. "A brother...and Lita's already lost one family."

****

Joerdan blinked at the churning Lake, then turned to slip into the catacombs before the rebels and the others fled into them.

A lone figure stepped into his path. "For my daughter. And for that boy."

Miss Baker drove the borrowed blade deep into the Commander's chest and turned away, not even looking back as Joerdan choked, falling to the ground, his eyes closing forever.

****

Silence.

Dust settling around the collapsed entrance to the catacombs.

A dragon trying to comfort a distraught girl.

"A Gate," Nuada said softly, looking around the stunned army. "To the Island."

Cerulean, looked up, his hands stroking Lita's hair. "We have quite a way back to the Gate to take us--"

"No; not that sort of Gate." Nuada looked the new leader in the eyes. "I helped to create this place once; I can manage that much, at least."

Cerulean nodded. "Do it."

The sidhe lord looked at him sideways, then smiled. "When Mortals order the sidhe, then it is time to check the fish for legs, as a Bard friend of mine once said." He turned and raised his hands, drawing power around him like a second cloak.

END PART 14

[Lady Serenity]

"Circles: PART FIFTEEN"
by NaruMolly

Cerulean followed the last of his battered and ragged army through the glowing portal, Lita's arm draped around his shoulder as she limped along at his side. Once through, he continued carefully for the center of the grassy, flower-speckled field to where the Scouts were gathering, around the bodies of the former generals.

Three bodies lay still in the grass.

Someone had set Zoe's body down carefully so that her neck was at a normal angle; she looked as though she could just be sleeping...if it weren't for the dark red stains going all the way from her left shoulder to her thigh from the wound to her shoulder. Ami crouched by the body, face curiously flat, her computer sitting by her in the grass.

Nathan looked almost untouched, aside from assorted cuts and scrapes, but a dried trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth to his chin, and his head lolled bonelessly where it rested in Molly's lap.

Malcolm could just be sleeping, curled on his side by the other two, the bird-man healer, Quicksilver, kneeling beside him.

"Where is Lady Bridgette?" Cerulean asked as Nuada approached slowly, having lowered the portal once more.

Melvin, his clothing torn and splattered, the staff Bridgette had given him scorched at one end, sighed and shook his head, though he continued to scan the crowd. "She vanished about 15 minutes ago." He paused, whipping off the glasses, to squint. "Where...where's Jared?"

Lita flinched and pressed her face into Cerulean's shoulder. Blood smeared on the front of his clothes from the long slashes on her chest, but the new lord didn't mind, merely held her closer. Mina burst into tears, holding onto Serena while Darien wrapped his arms helplessly around the both of them. "Dead, I fear. He...went into the Lake."

Melvin could only blink, then sit heavily in the grass, fingers going to twist the stem of one of the purple flowers. Riversong approached, his bird landing nearby. "And what of our losses? Of the score I brought, four remain, with their birds."

Nuada sighed. "I lost perhaps half of my people," he looked around the battle-torn clearing. "Though most were lost once they joined in the main battle, and not here."

"There were losses here," murmured on of the half-cats, part of one pointed ear missing.

"How did...Malcolm die?" asked Luna hesitantly.

"He got up and fought when he shouldn't have; when Bridgette was..." Quicksilver winced. "She should have been dead three times over, but somehow..."

Cerulean looked around the numbly milling army bleakly. "So many... was it even worth it?"

Gallia approached, her face stern. "We have defeated Beryl, my Lord. ANYTHING is worth that."

"For how long, though?" asked Ami, reaching out to brush Zoe's hair straight, wincing when the body's head titled crazily. "Bridgette said Beryl would...always return."

"For whatever length of time, we are free of her," Gallia affirmed, a few of the nearer minions and youma nodding slightly.

"What about Metallia?" asked Cerulean wearily, hand stroking Lita's hair while she struggled to control her emotions. "With Bridgette...not here, how can we..."

"Maybe that's where she went..." Mina suggested with a sniffle.

Cerulean spread his hands helplessly, then returned to holding Lita closer. Nuada frowned. "That does not sound like the Lady to me. She would have said something..."

"They're all dead," Melvin suddenly said. "How...how are we going to explain this to...to everyone?!"

Rei snorted, dashing away tears, setting down Kali's small body once more. "Explain what to who? How are we going to get BACK without Bridgette?"

"She will return, child. Let her have a few moments of peace."

Silence filled in the clearing, broken only by the sudden low growl of Feolin. As one, everyone still capable turned to look in the direction of the smooth baritone.

A tall man leaned casually against one of the trees on the edge of the Circle, his arms crossed over his chest. He wore a rich outfit of royal blues and violets in heavy velvets and brocaded silks; an outfit that could have easily passed in the Renaissance. He wore no evident weapons, but he moved with a grace that only people who make dancing or fighting their lives possess. His face was almost inhumanly handsome; unlined, though the thick, sable-colored hair that fell to his waist in a single tail was more than half silvered. On his head, he wore a large, wide-brimmed hat that had several large, brightly colored plumes. He reached up and doffed his hat, bowing and grinning broadly. "Shall I spin for you now, or are you all done staring?" he said, placing his hat back on, his bizarre, shifting-color eyes merry.

Rei snarled, lurching to her feet. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am...let us just say I am someone you can trust not to attack you, and leave it at that."

Cerulean stepped forward, Lita sniffling and moving to lean on his shoulder. "What do you want here, sir? Do you wish to join us in awaiting Metallia coming to avenge herself on us all?"

"With what form?" the stranger countered. "That one is powerful, yes, but it is Balanced by her lack of physical form. And there are none living at this time that she can control."

Nuada's eyes narrowed at the word 'Balanced.' Rei glared again. "How would you know, Mr...uh--"

"Oh yes; names. I had forgotten they were so important to you. You may call me...Ilye, if you wish."

Nuada started and squinted at the stranger. Then he backed up a step, paling and his eyes widening. Unnerved by the steely nerved sidhe backing away, the rest of the battered allies shifted nervously. "What is it?" whispered Artemis, moving neat the elven lord's feet.

"He...can be trusted," Nuada whispered, face still pale.

"Ilye?" Ami looked up bleakly. "What's that supposed to mean."

"Ask Nuada some time, child. But not now. We have too much to discuss."


****


Images. Memories. Glimpses.

...A gathering of people in clothing more varied than anything; and races varying from humans to what looked like dragons. Some sort of meeting. Much anger. Arguing. A stranger. A beautiful, young woman, her hair a luxuriant red-gold moving to speak to the rest, her calm words soothing the ruffled tempers. Peace for now. Going up to the woman. A gentle smile crossing her lips, more powerful than anything he would ever know, binding him to her...

...A shy smile. He holds out a hand containing a small bundle wrapped in a scrap of silk to the woman who has come to mean so much to him. She smiles, warmth touching those incredible blue eyes. She opens it. A silver locket, carved into the shape of her sign. A circle quartered by a cross. Familiar, somehow. Her eyes widen, then shine with delight as she tucks her hair up, having him clip the glittering chain around her neck. She turns and kisses his cheek...

...A battle. Magic flying wildly. Blades clashing. His back pressed to the woman with the red-golden hair. Suddenly, the battle grows worse. A gentle hand touches his cheek. A murmured, tearful apology for deceiving him. She pulls away...and gleaming wings sprout from her back, arching over her head. Powers more than he could ever dream of swirling about her hands as she drives the attackers back. Turning the creatures the Dark One had twisted back to what they once were...

...Not human. She's not human. She touches his cheek kisses the place her fingers touch once more. She vanishes. He calls out to her to wait. It doesn't matter...

...Bright light. A choice. Not so difficult. Not for HER. He finds her sitting in a field somewhere ELSE, tears on her face. Surprise turns into anger; fear for him. Then she is too glad to see him then anything else...

...A child. Something familiar, like with the locket. Something about the fall of the dark auburn hair and merry blue eyes. A new soul; a wonder. A child who plays with the stars, their light gleaming all the brighter when he smiles...

...Another choice. His son pleading for a strange idea. His son, now a young man, with the gleaming wings like his mothers. Like his. A different path; a dangerous path. A new world born...

...Sunlight shining down warmly on all of them. The place where he once again found her. A field of fragrant grasses with the faintly- glowing, beautiful flowers that his son loves so much, he gave them to another world. A picnic. Something simple. The woman; still beautiful. Her hair now thickly-silvered, even though HIS is pure silver now, rather than ebon. The silver gleams like the purest metal. She comes closer to him, kissing him gently...

...Something wrong. A scream. His son!! Dark THINGS lurking over his son's pain-racked body. A sudden void in his heart and mind where his son had been. Nothingness. Shock. Not even noticing when the THINGS turn on him...

...Another choice. Hesitation, but then not so difficult, though it will not be the same...

...And one more choice...


****

Cerulean eyed Ilye mistrustfully as the man settled against the tree again, crossing the richly clad arms. "Where did you come from? WHAT are you?"

Ilye chuckled, tilting his hat to shade his eyes from the setting sun. "I am from...no where in particular." He grinned, flashing white teeth. "As for what I am, right now, I am what you see. Perhaps later I will be something else. Whatever is needed."

"What do you want?" Lita asked bitterly.

Ilye smiled at her gently. "It is not what _I_ want that matters, child. It is not ME who matters. I am here for what YOU want. You all want explanations; reassurances. Perhaps even suggestions and predictions, correct?"

Rei paused, then nodded carefully, sitting in the grass by Kali's still, silk-wrapped form. "Yeah."

Ilye gestured and a thickly cushioned chair appeared behind him. He settled into it with a sigh. "I had forgotten how tiring a physical form can be." He shifted in the cushions and sighed. "Ah. That's better." Ignoring the confused looks he smiled. "First of all, perhaps some explanation to the problems of the past? Your Bridgette? Her attachment to four certain mortals? Her curse and Beryl's? Perhaps even the Lake?" When Cerulean nodded and sat on the grass with Lita leaning on his shoulder, Ilye smiled. "First of all, I will start with your Bridgette."

"Why OUR Bridgette?" asked Ami, fists clenching. "What is she to you?"

"I know her by another name. I know her from another time. She is almost a new person now. When I knew her, she would never have risked so much for so few...as in the four mortals." he gestured to the three bodies. "Oh...hello. We seem to be missing one."

Mina choked, sitting heavily on the grass and burying her face in her hands, Artemis glaring at the stranger and rubbing against his 'mistress' in concern. "He went into the Lake along with the unicorn when he slammed into Beryl," the white cat spat.

"Oh! Silly me!" Ilye smacked his head with a grin. "No he didn't. I simply forgot to return his body to this plane." Ilye gestured, and Jared's and Tuli's bodies appeared on the grass near the others.

Jared's face was peaceful, but was made all the more ghastly with the strange contrast to the long gash across his face and the shredded clothing he wore. Lita turned her face away, pressing it into Cerulean's shoulder. "Why do you DO this?"

"Did you wish that the Lake destroy him utterly? I thought to spare you that total loss." Ilye frowned. "I can never completely second guess you mortals."

"What...IS the Lake?" asked Molly's mother looking up from where she sat by her daughter.

"The Lake is what Beryl originally formed the Things that destroyed so many of your Bridgette's people. Such corruption does not fade, and it tends to spread corruption as well."

"Wait," said Luna. "SOME of Bridgette's people? And not all?"

"Your Bridgette knows a great many things, and she is very old, but she CAN be a bit dense. Though that is not entirely her fault. Nor is it her fault that she now constantly expects the worst to happen." Ilye grimaced. "But no, not all those she thought lost that day were completely destroyed. Two in particular were not."

"Her son and her husband?" Serena spoke up.

"Yes, actually. And that gets to my next point. Why she was so attached to these four mortals and why her tampering with the Balance was allowed for their sakes."

Ami stared. "Then...one of these four is..."

"Kyl'so was originally a human. He met your Bridgette when she had gone to his world to intervene in a meeting of the most powerful mages, to prevent a war which would destroy that part of that whole galaxy. She did this, but she...fell in love with the young mage who had fallen in love with her the moment he saw her. She stayed much longer than she was needed. She received her locket from him, actually. Then they were involved in a battle in which HE was supposed to die. She exerted her full powers to prevent it, then returned to Cynillon. Kyl'so followed, and became one of her people in order to be with her." The strange man took his hat off and fanned himself, several glowing orbs of violet light springing up around the Circle as the light faded further as the sun set. "It was because of his once being a mortal that...he was able to be saved from the Things' destructive powers. The part of him that was one of Bridgette's people was destroyed, but not his human core. And his human self continued to be reborn, always looking for his lost love."

"That's...sweet," Molly said softly. "Which one--"

"Which one was in love with her?" Ilye countered.

"Malcolm," Mina said softly. "What's going to happen now?"

"He had his choice: rest or returning once more to be with her."

"What did he--"

"You will see." Ilye smiled. "Her son, too, was saved by being part mortal." He fixed his shifting eyes on Molly. "And he had the same choice."


****

Fragments. Hardly more than a minute at a time. And not many of those. Then, a complete moment. But not something he wanted to remember.

Sun was shining down on the red-gold and silver of his mother's hair, off the gleaming arc of her wings. Her father sat to her left side, arms around her, smiling at him, his hair, once a dark, raven-black, now the purest silver. As always, things were peaceful.

Smiling, he stood, stooping to pluck two of his favorite flowers for his parents. He turned to them, a smile on his face.

Something went wrong.

PAIN!! A tearing agony that tore him to the very core of his being. The pain got worse; a scream from his mother...his father's agonized cry...a warm light washing away the pain...

A choice offered and taken...

And another choice. Not so hard to answer, despite everything.


****

"Then, Nathan is...was--" Molly's mother looked down at the still form whose head rested in her daughter's lap. "Oh dear." "What about the others?" asked Ami, looking up from Zoe's body.

"They were...a compilations of shreds of others. Your Bridgette was fairly unique amongst her people for many reasons: her power, her bond with a former mortal, her giving birth to the first new soul for a long time, AND her ability to think more for herself than for the whole of the people. It was not so hard to put together the fragments of several wholes to give more power to two mortals who would have died at birth; to ensure that they, too would cycle around and ensure Bridgette more company. That is what they were, and that is why, I think, they may have had more problems adjusting to their lives than the other two."

"You know...a great deal," Cerulean looked suspiciously.

"It is what my part in the Balance is." Ilye tossed his long tail of hair back over his shoulder, leaning forward intently, his arms resting on his knees. "Now. Cynillon was never meant to be."

"What?"

"It was never intended for your Bridgette's people to take up residence there. It was a mistake to give them that place of ignorance; it only made the contrast all the more evident to someone who can no longer return. Not to mention that every entrance and exit from that world upset the Balance."

"I thought that her people were outside the Balance," said Ami in confusion.

"No one is. They simply have more trouble affecting the Balance directly. But they do. Look at what your Bridgette has suffered; surely it would be unfair unless it was matched evenly elsewhere?" Ilye spread his hands, eyes shifting rapidly through several colors suddenly. "Never the less, your Bridgette and her people were meant to take up residence elsewhere. To love another world."

"The Earth," Molly said softly.

Ilye smiled. "Yes. You recognized her symbol."

"Nathan did. Before he--" Molly bowed her head, tears dripping from her eyes.

"Don't be sad, child."

"The...earth. Why the earth?" asked Darien in confusion.

"What other world has access to so many? Think for a moment. Have you ever heard of another world which invents and dreams of so many others? Certainly, there are worlds that know of others, but the worlds that they know of are connected to theirs some how. Here, it is all right to dream of other worlds; other universes; other dimensions and parallels."

Ami blinked. "So--"

"The Earth is a sort of hub, and Bridgette has long loved the Earth, anyway. Now she can be justified in expending her full power to protect the Earth and the worlds that touch it...like this one." He stooped, plucking up one of the purple flowers and sniffing it deeply, the flower's glow brightening. "Ahh!!"

"What ARE those things, anyway?" asked Rei.

"I recommend smelling them." Ilye grinned.

Curious, Cerulean leaned over and plucked one of the flowers and inhaled deeply. A heady scent somewhere between roses and baking pastries filled his nose. He felt extremely light headed, swaying slightly to be caught by Lita with a grimace as her chest wounds reopened. Then..."I...feel." He looked down at himself. Through a tear in his shirt, he could see his skin was once more smooth and whole. "What in--"

Ilye grinned as people everywhere picked one of the numerous flowers. Riversong approached. "And what of the dead? Lady Bridgette's four?"

"The four that Bridgette cares for so much; they are different cases. As for the mortals; fear not. They will return in time. Nothing ends, particularly not where your Bridgette is concerned."

"And...the unicorns?" Rei asked.

"They are embodiments of Good, Rei. They will return as well."

"The youma? The rest of my people?" asked Cerulean.

Ilye laughed. "Foolish mortal! All things move in circles. They will return."

"Like Beryl," Gallia inserted flatly, holding the flower she had taken in her clenching fist.

Ilye shrugged. "That Circle is a bit strange, but yes."

"What are we supposed to do until then? Just wait for her to return? To submit to her--"

Ilye cut Cerulean's bitter words off. "No one could expect any man with any semblance of intelligence to stand in the path of danger meekly." Ilye gestured around. "Look what you have here! Build a fortress here; continue to struggle against Beryl when she returns. No one ever said her leadership had to be so complete over this world. Make her PAY for every inch she tries to gain. Just because life is a circle, doesn't mean things repeat themselves exactly. What good would that do?"

"But--"

Ilye stood. "I have been here long enough. My presence here has caused enough unBalance." The chair vanished. "Be kind to your Bridgette when she returns. She knows some of what I told you, but not all." His eyes flashed brightly, and then his form melted into a gleaming patch of light, and shot into the sky like a meteor.

Silence filled the clearing. "In the old tongue of the People," Nuada said softly, "Ilye meant 'all' or 'everything'." He shook his long silver hair over his shoulder. "It was our name for the Presence."


****

Cerulean looked up with a start, catching faint movement from the corner of his eyes. Malcolm moved slightly, murmuring, and wings shimmered into existence, spread on the grass; ivory against the green. "What--"

Malcolm's pale eyes flickered open, and he grimaced, sitting up and rubbing at his head. He let out stream of liquid words which, though beautiful, still had the definite ring of a curse. "And I thought my headaches were bad BEFORE."

"Malcolm!" Serena yelped.

The silver haired man winced, wings twitching. "Please, Serena. My head--"

"You...you're back! You're alive!" gasped Quicksilver.

"Only partially, and not certain I'm happy about that,"Malcolm said wryly, though his eyes were amused.

"What about--" Ami looked down at Zoe's still form.

Malcolm grimaced, and shrugged. "I'm not sure what she chose; what any of the others chose."

"Why did you choose to return, then?" asked Nuada softly. "To go back to all that?"

Malcolm looked at the sidhe lord with an oddly serious expression. "It needs to be done, Nuada." Cerulean noticed that the 'Lord' which Malcolm had formerly used with the sidhe's name had been dropped. "Besides; I chose to return to being human to hopefully be with Kae--I mean Bridgette, and I'm not about to stop now."

"What about Zoici--I mean Zoe?" asked Cerulean.

Malcolm frowned slightly, brow furrowing. "Zoe--" he sighed and shook his head, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "I love her; really. But this is...different. Deeper. I'm not sure how to explain it."

"I wouldn't bother even TRYING to explain, Mal...I mean, Father."

Everyone started, especially Molly. Her eyes snapped down to the body stretched before her in the grass. Nathan's eyes were opened and a gentle smile on his face as he gazed up at her from her lap. His wings folded neatly, the very tips of the feathers just brushing Molly's leg.

"Oh for pity's sake, Nathan. I'm still Malcolm," the older musician chuckled. "Just got a pile more memories than I was expecting."

Nathan grinned. "Good; it's bloody hard to think of you as my father, even though--" he chuckled, pushing himself up to take Molly into his arms as she let out a low cry and flung her arms around him. "Well; I can't seem to remember much of...before. Just the last few minutes or so."

"Probably for the better," Malcolm said, pushing a few strands of hair from his eyes.

Nathan shrugged, reaching up to scratch at the lines of dried blood on his face. "I don't suppose someone has a handkerchief I can borrow. I imagine I look like a fright."

Molly's mother, who had been staring in open shock, burst into nearly hysterical laughter. Quicksilver picked himself off the grass and went over to her, crouching down and murmuring into her ear softly; calming her. Malcolm grimaced, and his wings vanished. "I'd forgotten what a pain cramped wing muscles were."

Ami heard a muffled crunch from at her side. Startled, she saw Zoe's body twitch with a few more muffled crunches. Already, the bone that had poked through the skin at her shoulder was back in place and the skin smooth where it showed through the tear in the fabric of her jacket. The emerald eyes flickered open, fixing on Ami's blue eyes. "Hullo, Ami. You look like you've seen a ghost." Ami blinked. The voice was too low; too sultry, somehow. There was something odd about her. Zoe reached a hand up to rub at her neck. "Oy! OW! I don't recommend that."

Suddenly, Ami realized what was troubling her about the blonde musician. "Zoe...I mean...you...you're a--"

Zoe looked down at his chest where Ami stared. Flat. "Oops!" As Zoe sat up, snowy wings formed and the jacket filled out a little more. "Sorry."

"You...you were--" Ami blinked.

"Well, I WAS a man for a long time. The Presence thought I might like the option." The now she grinned. "Should make it quicker in finding a disused W.C." Ami blinked. "Relax, Ami. It's still me. Mostly." She grinned, looking at Nathan.

"And I thought our group was all ready 'mixed company'," he teased.

Zoe flung a handful of grass at Nathan and Molly while Malcolm laughed out loud. Ami reaches out a tenative hand and touched Zoe's cheek. "You were...I keep forgetting you were a man back when--" the younger girl broke off, blinking.

Zoe stilled slightly, the emerald eyes fixing on Ami's own. "You don't remember, do you? About--"

"About what?" Ami asked, puzzled, her brow creasing.

Zoe shook her head, an odd look in her eyes. "It's probably for the better that you DON'T remember that just yet. So that you can start anew, without any former--"

"Former whats?"

"Complications," Zoe muttered, face troubled. "And big ones." She sighed and draped a companionable arm around Ami's shoulders, giving the younger girl a hug. "Never mind. It was nice waking up and seeing someone worrying over me."

"I would have been," Malcolm said with a grin, "but I only just recovered from death myself."

Zoe giggled, and Ami sat uner her arm as if confused. Cerulean stared openly. "You're all coming back!!"

"'Course I would, Cer," Nathan said. "I've my family here. No use going to the Other Side with no company I care to keep."

"What about Molly?" Nuada countered. "She will eventually die."

"Not since she became one of us!" Serena beamed.

"Umm...worse than that, I fear," Nathan said with a grimace. Molly looked at him curiously and the auburn-haired man winced, his wings vanishing. "Well...you know how the Earth is now supposed to be our...oh...home base, as it were?" Molly nodded. "You ever think about what the world's new status was going to do to the person tied to it as its Guardian." Nathan rubbed at the back of his neck.

Molly's eyes widened. "You mean I'm a--"

"Going to be," Malcolm corrected. "It'll take awhile to completely set in." He smiled at her, running his hands through his hair once more.

"Could you all be quiet? I'm trying to be unconscious here."

Mina's eyes snapped down to where Jared's body lay. He had propped himself up on one arm wearing a mischievous grin. The cut that had nearly taken out his eye was completely gone, and his leg showed to be healed through the rent in his trousers. "JARED!" Lita gasped.

"Every inch of me. Plus some." He winked, and his own winks, a creamy ivory spread out, then vanished. "How could I die? I forgot to get that recipe for scones from Feolin!"

The dragon roared with relieved laughter. "You will have to cut it down a bit, I think."

"Not with the way Serena and I eat!" He winked.

Rei spluttered with laughter. "So where's Bridgette, then? And what about--" she sobered, looking down at the unicorn foal's body.

"Hum. Oh...the unicorns can't come back like we do, Rei. But they're immortal too. I'm sure somewhere a whole bunch of new unicorn foals are being born." Jared grinned. "I remember THAT much at least. And I thought I had enough people floating around in my head BEFORE this." His expression changed. "You could have asked me how _I_ felt about coming back, you know." "Do you have any objections?" "No, but--" "All right, then."

Cerulean sat heavily on the grass once more, pulling Lita down with him. "I...I think I--"

"Need a drink?" Jared grinned, reaching into the tattered coat of his uniform and handing over a silver flask. "Here you go; good whiskey."

Zoe crossed her arms over her chest. "And just how LONG have you been carrying that around, Jared Sims?"

"Since I went back for the supplies. Good quick antiseptic, this stuff." He grinned broadly. "Not long, Mommy." Jared's eyes flared with amusement. "I mean Daddy." No one could swear WHICH of them, Jared or Jedite, had said the last, and neither of them would ever tell.

Zoe glared a moment, then grinned and stuck out her tongue, poking the still-stunned Ami in the ribs then hugging the girl again. "Where IS Bridgette, anyway?"

"Right here."

She stood to the side of the same tree that Ilye had leaned against, her eyes troubled. She once again wore the human guise, her tattered clothing hanging limply in the still night air. Malcolm hopped to his feet and trotted over to her, a smile on his face. He paused when she looked at him warily. "What is it?" he asked, confusion on his face.

"Kyl...Malcolm, I...I never wanted to--"

"Bridgette, I came back to BE with you." He put his hands on his hips, raising an eyebrow. "If you persist in this guilt trip, I'm afraid I'll have to do something drastic." He peered intently into her eyes as she struggled to think of something to say in return. "I've tried other lives; other loves." He glanced back at Zoe who still had her arm draped around Ami's shoulders, then spared a brief glance back to Mina and blushed. "I care for them; but...you will always be different. More."

Nathan chortled, hooting. "Go, Mal! About bloody time you said something like that to her."

Bridgette seemed truly stunned, her blue eyes wide. "But--"

"Not a word." Malcolm grinned.

Melvin finally recovered his tongue. "You're all ALIVE?"

Jared chuckled. " 'Course we are! Us die? And miss all this?" He winked again. "Besides, we're too damned busy to die! We've got 8 more weeks of schools to go to, and we STILL have to make up our lost time at your school."

"What school?" Lita countered, hugging Cerulean fiercely, her face split back into a broad grin.

"Oh...yes. I forgot." Jared chuckled. "Guess we'll build a new one."

"We have to build a stronghold HERE first," Zoe said.

"Don't look at me; YOU'RE the one who specialized in crystals," Jared said with a grin. "I never WAS very good at shaping stone and stuff like that."

Cerulean blinked. "But...what about...I mean--"

Jared grinned and pointed a long finger at Lita. "That's my sister you've got there, sir. I'm not about to let you make her sleep on the grass every night." Lita blushed furiously.

"Sister?" Cerulean blinked.

"Well--almost; I'd like to think of her that way, anyway," Jared smiled. "She was in her last lifetime, anyway."

"I...was...WHAT?"

"Don't worry; just the humans being reincarnated thing. You don't have to worry about sprouting wings unless you do something silly." Jared winked.

Molly's mother looked up suddenly. "What about you Mr. Malley? And...my daughter?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Please, Mrs. Baker. Nathan. Just Nathan. I've had too many lifeftimes with too many bloody names; let's keep it simple, aye? And I was rather hoping you two might like to come with us when we go back to Ireland."

Serena's smile faded. "But...Oh. Go wherever you'll be happy, Mol.' "

"But...Ireland--" gasped Mrs. Baker.

Molly stared at Nathan. "You mean..."

Nathan grimaced. "Well; we'd get odd looks, to be sure. They're not as easy about age differences in Ireland, but--" he coughed, then shrugged. "But I'd really like you to come, Mol. I'd miss you too much."

"Yeah! That'd be great!" Jared said, beeming happily.

"Why not everyone come," said Bridgette suddenly, looking up from Malcolm's eyes. "I DO run a school there." She smiled faintly at Serena, "And the scheduling is a bit looser. I think I could manage to swing good excuses for you all to attend." She cocked her head at Melvin, "Even you, if you wished; you have some potential, when you're not thinking about it." Melvin blinked.

"And that way," Zoe said with a grin, "you can open a free gate between here and Earth so that it's not such a pain in the butt to get here to help out Cerulean and the others when they need it."

"Or when Lita wants to go visiting," Mina teased, a broad smile on her face.

"Or when one of us gets lonely," Jedite said, taking over enough to arch an eyebrow at Zoe, "We won't have as far to go."

"Me? In IRELAND?" Serena giggled. "But my English is terrible!"

Zoe grinned broadly, making a face at Jared and Jedite. "So's mine."

FIN

[Lady Serenity]

A quick Prelude to the storyboard

"Circles-Supplemental: Last Days"
By: NaruMolly


Naru sighed deeply, leaning back against the marble and gold column, and looking out at the dancers. Three years, and she still felt out of place on the Moon Kingdom, _despite_ having been accepted as one of Queen Serenity's honor guard for the young princess. The princess was just about her age, as were the other eight girls in the Guard, but for some reason, they all felt uncomfortable around her. Then again, of all of them, she was the only human. The only one from Earth.

She sighed, looking over to her brother who danced to the rippling music of the strange bard that Naru could never remember NOT being at Earth's court. At least her elder brother was enjoying himself. She smiled slightly to herself, shaking her head and sighing, crossing her arms over the smooth silk bodice of her ball gown. Endymion had fallen in love with the Princess at first sight. "I thought that this was a dance, not a 'stand'."

Naru jumped, then turned and laughed, seeing one of Endymion's own honor guard; one of the commanders in the army of the earth. "Jadeite, I just don't--" she blushed and shrugged.

"Kaela's going through a lot to play some great music and you're not dancing. I'm going to have to have some words with Nephrite." Jadeite grinned.

Naru jumped at Jadeite, knocking him flat and bawling in his face. "Don't you _dare_ tell him!" she shrieked, grabbing a pillow and smashing it into Jadeite's face.

"That looks like fun, Princess Naru, but is it really all that dignified?"

Naru jumped up face flaming while Jadeite remained on the floor, a huge grin on his face as he tucked his arms behind his head and pretended to whistle. She turned to see Zoicite, his long gold hair in a careful tail over the neat velvet of his tunic, Princess Ami, one of Selene's other honor guard members tucked, as usual, under his arm. "I...uh--"

"Allow me," Princess Rei, another of the honor guard, her raven hair up in an elaborate braid rather than her normal loose flow. She grabbed the pillow from where Naru had dropped it and flung it at Jadeite's face with a broad grin.

Naru blinked, then lowered her eyes with a blush as the other two of Endymion's aides came over, each with one of the other guard members under their arms. The silver-haired Kunzite, frowned, leaving Princess Minako behind to go tilt Naru's face up gently with his slender fingers. "What's wrong?" he murmured, silver eyes concerned.

Naru looked up at him, and more specifically at Kunzite's other companion; the one with Princess Makoto under his arm. "No...nothing," she turned and left the ball room, Kunzite staring after her with concerned eyes.

****


"What's wrong, Naru?"

Naru turned from staring off the balcony to see Princess Makoto and the others in the Moon Princess's honor guard approaching. Naru looked at Makoto for a moment, then turned back around, biting her lip and clenching her eyes against tears. "Nothing."

"SOMETHING'S wrong," said Princess Minako gently. "The Princess's Guard doesn't turn and run from friends for 'nothing.' "

Naru looked over her shoulder slightly, then shook her head, turning back around. "It's nothing, Minako. Just...just leave me alone."

Naru flinched when Makoto draped a companionable arm around her shoulders and Ami hugged her from the other side. "Naru, come on. Tell us what's wrong! We're all friends here!"

Ami nodded. "Yes, besides, the guys have left us all to go talk with your brother; no good being at a dance alone."

Minako glanced at Rei a moment. "Wait...that's it, isn't it. The dance."

Naru felt a tear sliding down her cheek, but did nothing to stop it. "Yes--"

Makoto cocked her head. "There's plenty of people who'd love to dance with you, Naru!"

Naru stared at her hands. "I...don't want to dance with any of them--"

"Someone specific in mind?" guessed Rei.

Naru flinched and nodded, not saying anything. "Who?" asked Ami after a moment.

"Pardon, Highnesses." Kaela stepped out on the balcony, her long hair flowing loosely down her back. "May I join you? I am resting my hands and my voice while some other musicians play, and my friends seem to have vanished with Prince Endymion."

Minako nodded distractedly. "Sure, Kaela."

Kaela's fingers reached up to stroke the silver of her locket, drawing all of their eyes. "Is there something wrong?"

"Naru's lonely," said Makoto with a faint smile. "She's interested in someone."

Kaela's beautiful face split into a gentle smile. "Oh? And have you told this person, Naru?" she asked, comfortable with the young girl after so long in the court of Earth.

Naru tore her eyes from the locket and turned away, her eyes filling. "No. He...already has someone--"

"Who?" asked Makoto. "We'll beat her up."

Naru choked and sobbed, Selene and Ami enveloping her in their arms. "Who's this person you're interested in?" asked Kaela gently, placing a silken handkerchief in her hand.

Naru looked out of the corner of her eye at Makoto. "Nephrite--"

****


"We're going to do WHAT?" asked Kunzite incredulously, staring at Zoicite.

The golden-haired man laughed, tossing his long hair over his shoulder and thumping the Prince of Earth over the head with the pillow. "Look, her Highness is depressed. She hasn't helped me do something crazy in over three weeks. I figure this will cheer her up some."

Nephrite pushed his auburn hair back from his face and regarded his friend with wary blue eyes. "How can you be sure? She never seems comfortable around me any more."

Jadeite grinned. "Sure there's not a reason?"

Nephrite shot him a hard look. "What's THAT supposed to mean?"

Endymion raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall. "Really, Jadeite."

"Oh come on; she's jumpy around you, she looks like you've just put a knife in her back when you and your friend Makoto are together." Jadeite spread his hands. "Who was teasing ME about doing that around the Princess of Mars JUST the other day?"

Nephrite frowned. "That's insane, Jadeite!"

Endymion exchanged glances with Kunzite. "Are you saying my sister is in love with Nephrite?"

Jadeite grinned. "Well--I don't know for SURE, but she's acting a lot like YOU were before Kaela talked you into SPEAKING with Princess Selene."

Nephrite colored, "But that's--"

"So?" Kunzite said suddenly. "You were just telling Makoto, Minako, and I how much you were interested in her," Kunzite met Endymion's startled look when the Prince turned to stare at him. "So what is the problem."

Zoicite grinned. "I think we can make this work to your advantage--" he said with a wink. "--provided that you can all manage to remember your parts." He moved over to poke the blushing Nephrite in the ribs with a slender finger.

****


"You're sure?" Naru asked for about the twentieth time.

"Come on, Naru! Me? DATE?" Makoto giggled, her eyes warm. "Nah! Nephrite and I just go work out and stuff."

Kaela, in the lead of the royal procession paused, her face quirking into a slight, thoughtful smile. "I had better get back to the dance, Highnesses," she said, her eyes sparkling. She bowed, then strode off down the marble corridors, her long gown flowing out behind her.

"She's up to something," said Minako with a slight smile.

"Considering that Zoicite is one of her closest friends," said Ami with a fond smile, "I don't doubt it."

"Hey...wasn't it NARU'S idea running Armsmaster Viridian's underwear up the Palace flagpole last month," said Minako, grinning broadly.

Naru blushed while Selene giggled. "Um--"

The Moon Princess hugged her warmly, keeping her arm around the other girl's shoulders as they walked through the Palace hallways. "Well...I don't blame you. He's so...uh--"

Makoto grinned. "He's got rough edges, but he's a GOOD trainer."

"He's not all that bad," said Naru with a blush. "He's sort of like a grandfather when you're not on the training floor."

Selene shook her head, "I don't see how you all do it."

Rei grinned. "That's why WE do it, and you don't."

"BANZAII!!"

They all stopped, startled as a dark-clad figure dove from out of the hedge to one side, straight at the princess of Mars. Before the raven-haired girl could react, she was on her back, with the dark figure sitting on her chest, smacking her roughly with a pillow. "What in--" Makoto said, grabbing the figure's shoulder.

"Incoming," said the figure, turning, a broad grin on his face.

Jadeite.

"What--" asked Naru, startled.

Five more figures dove in, pillows swinging. Makoto was buried under two assailants, laughing the whole time. Naru stood by the Moon Princess, uncertain what to do. Then Kaela was there, flinging pillows at the Princess's honor guard, and diving into the fray. "Defend yourself, ladies!" she yelled, laughing and swatting Prince Endymion with a pillow as she dove into stand by Naru and Selene as the other girls stood, grinning.

"Aren't those your friends?" asked Minako, ducking a wild swing from Zoicite which connected with Ami's head and the two of them tumbled to one side with a laugh.

Kaela tossed her hair, easily catching Jadeite on the back of the head with her pillow. "Yes, but then, I also serve Naru."

"Ah! The Princess!" Zoicite crowed, driving for the inner group.

Naru's eyes widened in surprise, weakly raising her own pillow--

--a heavy weight knocked her to the ground, out of the way while Selene laughed and dove after the slender man her own pillow swinging rapidly.

Naru struggled a moment, and she turned around to stare...directly into Nephrite's face. She forgot to breathe. "Are you all right?" the auburn-haired man breathed.

Naru stilled, eyes wide in surprise, but managed to draw in a breath. "I--"

"Nephrite! Help!!"

He looked up, not moving from his protective crouch over her to where Kunzite and Kaela fought back to back, the others apparently having agreed to team up on them. Nephrite turned his head back to Naru. "Shall we go help them?"

Naru paused, then smiled. "Sure."

****


Zoicite rolled on the floor, laughing. "I can't believe it! Cut down in our prime!"

Ami swatted him with a pillow one more time, then burst into giggles. Jadeite clutched his chest melodramatically. "And by an old bard, a slip of a girl, and two of our trusted friends!"

"Traitors," Endymion teased with a grin, his arm around Selene's shoulders, his clothing and hair rumpled.

Kaela's face stilled suddenly, one hand stopping on Kunzite's shoulder. Looking troubled, she got up and bowed. "I...really SHOULD get back, Highnesses." She shook her head when Kunzite's brow creased in concern as he drew in his breath to speak. She turned and left down one of the side passages.

****


Naru smiled a bit sadly at Makoto and hugged the taller girl firmly. "I'll try to keep in touch, but--"

Makoto grinned down at her, though the smile seemed a bit forced. "Hey. Don't get yourself into trouble."

"I don't see why there should be such a problem with you both spending so much time here," Selene said, tears in her eyes. "Why should your people--"

Kunzite, his arms around Minako sighed. "We're a suspicious people," he said with a sigh. "But perhaps Princess Naru and the four of us returning to Earth with Kaela will stay some of the complaints."

Endymion sighed unhappily. "I don't have to like it, though. But Father thinks--" he shrugged.

"The wedding's still on, isn't it?" asked Ami suddenly, looking away from Zoisite's emerald gaze.

Naru broke in before Endymion could speak. "It had better be," she smiled slightly, settling back against Nephrite's shoulder, "we've spent a small fortune on it all ready."

Rei burst out laughing. "Well--all right." She looked at the red-haired girl and smiled. "You be careful down there, all right? Jadeite's not exactly the safest person in the world to be around."

Kunzite smiled broadly, slapping palms with Nephrite. "That's what the two of US are for, remember? To prevent those two rascals from endangering the princess's life."

Jadeite stuck his tongue out, but his eyes were worried. "Well...they can't say anything about us coming back for visits, can they? Just not living here."

"Don't guess so."

****


"Majesties--"

Queen Serenity looked up from her desk, just as startled as Endymion's father, having come with the transport to take his daughter back jumped. "Kaela! You startled me," the Queen of the Moon said, smiling. Then the smile dropped from her face. "What is wrong?"

"Majesties...there will be an attack. You must prepare for it."

Endymion's father blinked, glancing over at Serenity. "Kaela? Are you certain? Our scouts have mentioned nothing of--"

"You don't understand. They're not here now, but they will be. They always are. Please! You must prepare--"

"I am not going to raise an army," said Earth's monarch, "and leave it standing on words with no proof, Kayla. Not with the distrust that is ALREADY developing."

"And I cannot do that either," Serenity said.

"Proof--" Kaela said bitterly. "Always it is proof." She raised hell-filled eyes to them both. "Proof always comes too late." She glanced over at the two cats, who were watching her intently, then looked away once more. "As you will. I will do what I can, but--"

"Kaela--I have known you all my life," Endymion's and Naru's father fought to find the words, "I don't see what's gotten into you! Why the sudden gloom sayings? You have seen the Earth through wars--"

Kaela looked up sharply. "Not like this. Not this." She turned away, head bowed. "As you wish. I will try to prevent it myself--" she left the room swiftly.

Serenity looked over at her fellow monarch. "Perhaps there is something to her words. Kaela is not one to get so upset. You saw her eyes--" Serenity broke of, frowning. "I really must remember to ask her why it is near impossible to remember anything about her appearance some day."

"I will keep a watch, my friend, for Kaela's mysterious attackers. Will you?"

She smiled back and nodded. "Tell your wife 'Hello for me.' "

****


"Where are they now?" asked Kunzite, arm around Naru's shoulders, along with Nephrite's, and trying to comfort the disturbed girl.

The scout panted. "They destroyed Aeden, and are moving east. To the Capital."

Naru looked up worried. "If only Father had listened to Kaela a few months ago--"

"Well," said Jadeite grimly, "he didn't and here we are." He looked over at the musician who sat to one side, beautiful face twisted into a pained, worried mask. "How did you know, Kaela?"

"I know. She always comes. Always."

"Who?" queried Zoicite.

Kaela looked up. "Promise me something. Any woman who looks vaguely like me--who knows my name, though pronounces it strangely...run from her. Do not--"

"We can't promise to run, Kaela," Kunzite said softly. "What if she had Naru captive? Or you?"

Kaela flinched and nodded. "She could never hold ME." She bowed her head finally, then spoke up again, softer, hand gripped around the silver locket that she always wore. "You are right, Kunzite. I am sorry."

"What's wrong, Kaela? You've been--" Nephrite gestured helplessly.

She shook her head. "Nothing, Nephrite. Nothing. I am just...tired of...losing all that I care for." she stood quickly and left the Map Room.

Naru looked at the door she had left through as it closed. "How...how could you remember what she looks like, anyway? NO ONE can."

"We can," said Zoicite with a shrug. "We always HAVE been able to."

"I don't like this," Jadeite said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I just don't. I mean--Kaela's a damn incredible fighter with blades and all...and her magic is amazing...if SHE'S worried--"

"What choice do we have?" Kunzite said, frowning a bit unhappily. "We each have to take our garrisons out to try to stop them before they reach here."

Naru sat upright. "No!"

Nephrite kissed her cheek gently. "Naru, we have to. It's our duty." He paused, then grinned lopsidedly. "You can't kill us."

****


An explosion of light that matched the pain on the back of his head. That was the last thing he could remember. His eyes flared open, suddenly, as he heard an anguished scream from a familiar voice.

Kunzite.

The elder man was not in sight, but the scream continued. "Oh ***t. Oh...oh ***t!"

Nephrite turned, wincing as his head throbbed in pain centered around the back of his head. "Jadeite! Zoicite!"

The yellow-haired man looked over at Nephrite, eyes wide, gleaming in the dim light that was all that enabled them to see in the dark stone room. "Nephrite! It's that woman Kaela warned us about! She--"

Kunzite's scream cut off abruptly. Too suddenly, and Zoicite slammed his fist into the wall, eyes filling. "damn! It's about time they let him die," he turned away, burying his face in his hands, his long golden hair hanging dirty and untidy around his face. "They've been...doing that for HOURS!"

Nephrite's eyes widened and his heart ached for his friend. "Gods, Naru's going to be heart broken. Kunzite...he had really become close to her--"

Jadeite eyed him keenly. "And what about with you?"

Nephrite bowed his head. A section of the wall swung inward, and a tall woman with red, yellow-rimmed eyes, and long red hair stepped in, her long gown splattered with blood. She looked about the cell with a cruel smile. Zoicite growled deep in his throat and launched himself at her...

...slamming into some sort of invisible wall, and crying out as a vicious arch of energy slammed him to the ground. "Very well--HIM next," said the woman.

Two HUGE creatures, with painted masks on moved forward and dragged the unconscious man out, and Jadeite and Nephrite were helpless to do anything.

****


"It's too quiet," Jadeite said, raising his head from his knees. "Far too quiet."

Nephrite winced. "I guess...they have something different in mind for each of us."

"Or they took him out of ear shot," Jadeite muttered miserably.

Nephrite looked at the other man sharply, but couldn't find anything to say. Then the wall opened again. Nephrite stood, fists clenched, and was slammed ruthlessly back into the wall by one of the creatures who had come in before. Two more drug an unresisting Jadeite out. "No--" Nephrite choked, but was flung to the ground and left alone.

****


Naru sobbed brokenly into her arms. Dead. All four of them; dead. Their armies decimated. And the strange attackers coming straight for them.

And from them to the Moon.

Naru looked up at the night sky, peering at the silver disk. "Be ready, Endymion. Oh PLEASE be ready. We can't keep them off--" she stood, face hardening. "But we're going to make them pay before we die." She grabbed her sword off the wall and strode for the Map Room and the war council.

****


Nephrite choked back a scream as the flames rose higher around him, searing already abused flesh. His head snapped back, cracking painfully into the stone post behind him, sending stars across his vision as he bashed his already damaged skull. Some of the flames had caught in his long, auburn hair, sending smoldering, choking smoke into his face as his eyes focused on the small flame that began to make its way up his hair for his face. Perhaps it would be THAT which finally killed him. "Enough."

Nephrite blinked in confusion, sagging against the tight bonds which cut into his wrists and arms and legs as the flames were suddenly gone. A slender-fingered hand grabbed his chin roughly, and he was forced to concentrate on keeping the pained groan from turning into a full scream of agony. The red-eyes woman peered at him, a cruel smile on her face, Kunzite's and who knew who else's blood splattered all over her. "Something else, perhaps?" She dropped his head, letting it fall back to his chest. "I will have you."

Nephrite managed to spit in her face. She hit him HARD. "The others did as much, but they lost in the end. Oh, yes. They lost." The woman's eyes flared with cruel fire. "That is a splendid idea."

Nephrite was beyond caring, trying to concentrate his thoughts on letting the pain overwhelm him; to take him out of this woman's clutches. Then, something sent all thoughts of death from his mind. A soft, deep voice. "Nephrite."

He managed to raise his head, eyes wide. "Mal--"

The elder man stood there, to one side of the woman. Nephrite could just make out the forms of the other two in the background, though there was something odd about Zoicite which he couldn't place. Kunzite shook his silver-haired head, with seeming sadness, a taut group of lines forming around his silver eyes as though he fought internally with something. He wore clean clothing; a strange, drab uniform, the collar flopping open to show a scar-riddled chest that was healing before his eyes. "Nephrite--"

The auburn-haired man realized what had happened. Turning hate-filled eyes to the red-haired woman he snarled. "I will NEVER join you."

"Oh," she sneered thoughtfully, drawing a obscenely gentle hand down Nephrite's cheek, "I think you will."

"Not while red blood pumps through my veins--and not even after it STILLS," Nephrite spat. "I'm not betraying Naru."

Beryl smiled thinly. "Red blood? Ah. I see."

****


Naru screamed out the command for a retreat, turning and dodging behind the remains of a column to avoid a blast of magical fire. She fought back tears. Her mother and father--dead in the throne room. Nothing had survived that fiery blast. Even she, several hundred feet from the door when it had happened, was badly scorched. "Get to the civilians! Get them to the safe location!" she yelled. "We have to abandon the city!"

The officers nodded, then all ran off to lead their men to the hiding places of their assigned groups of non-combatants. Naru, along with her remaining ten men ran for her rooms where several of the court's children had been hidden, near the escape passage. Straight into the largest part of the invading army.

Somehow, Naru made it through, though tears streamed down her face for each of the men. And for the familiar faces that raised swords against her.

A clear hallway. Warily, she ran down the hall to her rooms, paused, then kicked in the door.

Kunzite and Nephrite turned from the fireplace, children huddled in a terrified group near the bed. The sword fell from Naru's numb fingers. "Neph--" Then she noticed the stark uniform he wore. The uniform she had seen a thousand times today. "No--"

There was a visible struggle behind Nephrite's eyes, and he grimaced. "Naru--"

She looked to the children, tears filling her eyes. "Let...let them go--" she pleaded.

Kunzite looked at her a moment, then reached over and pressed a certain stone on the fireplace. A section of the wall swung in. "Go," he told the children. One of the elder ones looked at him in fear, but was startled when Kunzite reached over, grabbing one of the glass sphere's that lit the palace magically, and pressed it into the boy's hand. "Go quickly. I--we can't hold HER off much longer. GO, Motoki. Get the others to safety!"

The blonde boy nodded and chased the children into the passage. Kunzite closed it after him...and hit it with a blast of raw power that left Naru staring. "So we will not be able to follow," Kunzite said flatly.

Naru could only blink as Kunzite crossed to the door of the room and looked out into the hallway, wary. Nephrite's hand on her shoulder brought her head snapping back around to him. His eyes were filled with self-loathing. "Forgive me, Naru. I love you." He caught her as she crumpled, his dagger hilt crashing into her temple.

****


Naru opened her eyes, head pounding in pain. She raised a hand to her forehead, and encountered a painful, blood-caked lump. Grimacing, she pushed herself up and looked around, reaching for the sword at her waist.

No sword. It was by the door.

The door.

Kunzite standing by the door. Nephrite taking her into his arms.

Utter silence in the city.

Naru moaned a negative, staggering to her feet, grabbing her sword and the wand that had been given to her as one of the Moon Princess's guards. She staggered into the hallway. Utter desolation; the ceiling and most of one wall gone. Bodies everywhere. She was the only thing other than the flies and the other carrion eaters who moved.

Nephrite. And Kunzite. They had saved her. For THIS.

Tears streamed unheeded down Naru's cheeks as she stumbled through the rubble. She had to get to her brother. The only thing she had left. She had to warn him. Gathering the remainders of her energy, she raised her eyes to the moon...

****


"Prince Endymion!"

He turned, jumping. One of the Moon Queen's cats skidded to a halt at his feet. Luna; the darker one. "Luna!" he looked around, making sure no one else could see him. "What is it?"

"Your sister! Your sister is here!"

"She's still alive?!" Endymion leaned closer to the cat, whispering to make sure no one else could hear. His heart contracted painfully. "How!?"

Luna shook her head slightly. "She refuses to speak to anyone but you; she's been badly hurt. Burns, and a nasty blow to the head. She keeps crying about a betrayal." The cat paused. "I don't think she made it through completely sane. Whatever it was like down there...it...broke something within her."

Endymion closed his eyes in pain. "Where is she?"

"This way. Ami and Makoto are with her."

Endymion followed the cat, jaw clenched in sick worry. "Good. Ami's the best doctor here." He slipped from shadow to shadow behind the cat, eyes not really seeing. "If only Kunzite and...and Nephrite especially hadn't died. Or if Kaela hadn't vanished like that. Nephrite's death had...already hurt her. And the other three. Maybe more than it hurt me." He didn't notice the cat's sudden, considering stare.

They came to a door in one of the back hallways; a hallway of rooms for people visiting the Moon court. This one mostly deserted. He pushed open the door, half-fearing what he would see.

His sister was bundled into a bed, sobbing brokenly into Makoto's shoulder, Ami sitting to one side, scraps of bloody cloth crumpled in her lap. His sister's head was wrapped in a bloody bandage, and Endymion's eyes could pick out the fading glow from one of Rei's burn salves. Makoto looked up. "Oh! Prince Endymion!"

Ami looked up sharply, then her eyes filled. "I'm glad you're here. We...can't seem to reach her."

Endymion crouched at the bed side, laying gentle hands on his sister's blanket covered knee. "Naru!" She raised her head from Makoto's shoulder, agonized blue eyes fixing on him. She didn't seem to recognize him at first. "Sis?" he said, gently, a cold pit in his stomach. Recognition flooded into her semi-sane eyes, and she crumpled into his arms, sobbing bitterly. He held her carefully, moving to sit with his back against the side of the bed, her cradled in his lap as he stroked her hair. "It's all right. You're safe here."

Naru pulled away slightly, voice rising in pitch with strain. "No! NO! They'll come. They know the defenses!" The fear pushed away her anguish, at least temporarily.

"We can handle them," Makoto said gently.

"No!" She grabbed Endymion's shoulder. "No! They weren't dead! They got them! Endymion! You have to get out. You all have to hide!" Her face crumpled again and she began helplessly sobbing.

Endymion's eyes met Ami's over his sister's bowed head. Ami looked away from her computer screen, having completed a scan with a sad shake of her head. Endymion flinched and held her closer, wrapping the cloak around her. "Oh, Naru--" he half-groaned.

"It's gone, Endymion," Naru managed between sobs. "Everything. The city. Mother and Father--" Endymion bit back his own tears. "No...no more!"

"Easy, Naru. You don't have to fight anymore. We can handle it," Makoto said, her voice husky. "You can go help get the children to safety, or something."

"Children--" she choked and buried her face in Endymion's shoulder. "No safety. Not any more."

Endymion could only exchange helpless glances with Ami and Makoto.

****


Naru slipped carefully away from the pack of children, her head aching, but not enough to hinder her. There were guards with them, but her presence or absence would make no difference to their survival.

She slipped amongst the finely dressed crowd, standing out in her tattered and stained clothes. Her sword and bloody bandage drawing many nervous glances. But no one stopped her. Not even the fiercest opponents of the alliance with Earth.

Through the tall glass windows of the main hall, she watched the dancers swirling. She remembered a time, scarce months ago when a harpist had sat playing the rippling music. When she had danced with someone she loved. When she could laugh. Biting back tears, she turned and headed for the perimeter of the city.

At least SOMEONE had taken the fall of the Earth seriously. Naru noticed that there were at least twice the normal number of sentries, and there was actually a few thousand men standing at ready. They parted to let her through, eyes fixed on her with a nameless mix of emotions.

She reached a tall man with long, graying hair pulled into a tail. "Armsmaster Viridian!"

He spun, eyes wide. "Princess! What are you doing here?!" He swept the girl into a tight embrace. "We thought you dead!"

"I...got knocked out," Naru said, concentrating on forming the words.

Viridian looked at the bandage. "I taught you to duck."

Naru made no response to the joke. She just stared at the walls, face lined in pain and concentration. "I...came to help. I've seen what they can do."

"Does your brother know you are out at the Walls? He is King now..."

Naru paused. "He knows." Strange; lying was easier than she thought.

Viridian looked suspicious, but sighed. "Come then. I will take you to where some of your former classmates are. THEY at least don't believe all Earth-natives are out to kill us."

"We lost so much...how can they think that?" Naru asked dully.

Viridian placed a soft hand on her shoulder, fingering the blood-stained bandage. "They figure anyone worth trusting is already dead."

He left her in the company of a young, smiling man who's face split into a relieved, if worried grin at the sight of the Princess. "Take care of her, men."

Naru managed to smile back at her old training mates, but the smile didn't touch the turmoil in her eyes. She took a position on the wall, then turned and looked back at the distant revelries. "I'm sorry, Endymion."

She settled back to wait.

****


The hairs on Naru's arms prickled. Something was wrong. She straightened, sheathing her sword that she had been sharpening and moved to the edge of the wall, as others, too, sensed the trouble approaching. Unlike her comrades, she raised her eyes to the sky, not the horizon. A sickeningly familiar dark ripple in the air. "Everyone! Get off the wall! Into the ditches!" She actually shoved a few men off the walls, they only managing to land safely due to years of training. "Get off the wall NOW!"

A swirling vortex of black energy slammed out, shattering the wall into a fine rubble, and exploding. The blackness enveloped her, slamming her into silent nothingness.

****


Nephrite watched the forces spread out before him, nodding his approval, though some distant part of him wanted to scream. His three comrades directed the forces through the shattered walls expertly, efficiently slaughtering their way through the Moon's defenses.

He stepped through a pile of rubble that had been the first part of the wall to be destroyed and stopped. An aging, battle hardened man, straightened from laying a cloak over a fallen form. A flicker of recognition passed between them. Then he reeled back as Nephrite sent a blast of energy, killing him.

Half-curious, Nephrite wandered over to the body the man had been covering as his forces spread out past him. It was a young woman, dark blue eyes staring sightlessly at the sky above her. Shoulder-length red hair was spilled out behind her, some of it soaking up some of the pool of dark blood that was spread beneath her. A bandage was half torn from her forehead, revealing an older wound; a deep gash around a dark bruise on one temple. He tattered clothing was of Earth, not the Moon. By one slack hand rested a broken sword; by the other, a strangely familiar wand, topped with a golden circle, quartered by a cross.

Nephrite couldn't understand why his vision blurred with tears, part of him feeling like it was dying. He had no idea why he knelt in the blood, gently closing those staring eyes, gently picking up the fallen man's cloak and settling it over her, settling her broken body as though she were just sleeping. Why tears fell freely from his eyes as he picked up a dark, crystal sliver from her blade and pocketed it. A hollow fury built within him, but he had nowhere to direct it.

He turned the unexplained pain into power. Directing it into the attack. Destroying the Moon Kingdom.